JKUAT Student’s Beer Label Design Wins Prize

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Bachelor of Architecture student Reinier Khamala, has won the 2015 Brew Barrel Project Competition, organized by the Brew Bristro and Lounge (Kenya) in collaboration with Jameson Irish Whisky of Ireland.

Brew Bristro partnered with Jameson Irish Whisky to craft a beer which was created by Mr. Aleem Ladak the Master Brewer.

The two corporates wanted a label design and name of the beer that would capture the spirit of Nairobi and the essence of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland.

Reinier managed to put his ideas on paper and came up with the winning name for the beer christened: “Enkare” derived from the Maasai phrase “Enkare Nyirobi” (the place of cool waters).

“I chose the name because many people do not know the origin of Nairobi, so I wanted to capture the coolness and vibrant essence of the people of Nairobi (Nairobians) through the label design Enkare,” reveals Reinier.

“As for Dublin,” he continues, “Its spirit was illustrated through the font type and colour; that is the green and celtic font. Green is associated with Dublin.”

The month-long contest ran up to November, 2015 thereafter, Reinier was declared winner, bagging a Prize trip to Dublin to attend the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ireland. In Dublin, Reinier learnt about its history and culture.

“The competition gave me a different kind of exposure and opportunity in different designs category because this was my first competition of a kind in designing of brand labels.

Reinier savours the win in the company of team Vision Future members/Pic: Courtesy

“The participation in the contest has fired in me the inspiration to meet different corporates and I also expect to learn a lot from the Dublin trip.” The beer has now been launched in Nairobi.

Last year, Khamala and his four other classmates; Diana Machoka, Emmanuel Wekobo, Dickson M’Rinyiru and Felix Achar, styling themselves as Team Vision Future, designed four winning designs for the Proposed Konza Regional Innovation Hub and Park Design Competition organized by the Architectural Association of Kenya.

The designs of the “Innovation Park/and Hub, Police Post and Housing and Entrance Feature” will be considered in coming up with the design of the Konza Techno City’s Proposed Innovation Hub and Park.